To ensure that your procedure is successful, it’s important to choose the right implant material.
What are the usual materials used for dental implants?
Both titanium alloys and zirconium are approved for use in implants. Titanium alloys are strong and reliable, but people who have sensitivity to metals or are concerned about using metal in the body may want to consider zirconium. For dental use this a compound of zirconium oxide, with small amounts of the metals hafnium and yttrium added to improve its properties. Though there are metal atoms in the resulting product, it is labeled a ceramic.
What is the difference between titanium and zirconium materials?
Titanium implants are easier to place and can be made in either one or two-piece systems, which makes them more versatile. They may also stand up better to heavy function like grinding or clenching. Zirconium is non-corrosive and light in color, so it does not show through the gums.
What are implants and abutments usually made of?
Titanium is by far the most commonly used material for implants and abutments. More than 95% of all dental implants in use today are made of Titanium alloys.
Can you expect implants and abutment material to be accepted and not rejected by the gums? Both titanium and zirconium implants will fuse to bone and are readily accepted by the body. Titanium implants have been used for more than 50 years, so they have a long track record of success. Zirconium implants have been in use for less than a decade, so less is known about their acceptance rate.
What materials require special attention?
Zirconium implant placement is very demanding because the underlying bone must be perfect and placement must be exceptionally precise. In addition, the only option for zirconium-based prosthetics is to cement the teeth into place.
Sources:
Titanium-Zirconium Implants: A Case Report: Immediate Provisional and Restoration Using a Small-Diameter System. ww.dentistrytoday.com
The osseointegration of zirconia dental implants. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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